NBA Rumors: Oklahoma City Thunder Star Steven Adams Ignoring San Antonio Spurs Star Tim Duncan

NBA rumors are swirling around Tim Duncan. The veteran center has been trying to get into the head of Steven Adams during the playoffs series between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. According to the San Antonio Express, Adams has learned how to ignore Duncan. When Adams was younger, the tactic worked. By not letting it bother him any more, the Thunder center has been able to outplay the Spurs center thus far.

According to Steven Adams, Tim Duncan is one of the most talkative players on the court in the NBA. That probably comes as a surprise to many fans because Duncan is so quiet when it comes to the media. The former Wake Forest Demon Deacons star seemingly only talks to reporters because he has to. Adams revealed that Duncan likes to start discussions with opponents because his nice guy routine lures them into a false sense of security.

While most players in the NBA prefer to talk trash, Tim Duncan’s weapon of choice is a nice conversation. Steven Adams has stated that Duncan has asked about his 17 siblings. Adams also revealed that Duncan would often ask how he’s enjoying his time in the city of San Antonio. Adams realized that it was making him play more passively, so Duncan was able to get inside of his head in an unorthodox method.

Tim Duncan has been outplayed by Steven Adams. In Game 5 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, Duncan only hit one of the six shots that he took. Adams, on the other hand, provided the Thunder with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Oklahoma City shocked the NBA by coming within one game of eliminating the Spurs from the playoffs. Many had predicted that San Antonio was headed towards an eventual Western Conference Finals match up with Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.

Things were even worse for Tim Duncan in Game 4. San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich was only able to rely on Duncan for 12 minutes. Tim did not take a single shot against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He also had four fouls in a short period of time. Popovich had no choice but to lean more on Boris Diaw and David West, the Spurs’ two veteran big men on the bench.

Though the San Antonio Spurs were able to win Game 3 with barely any contributions from Tim Duncan, the team is going to need their longtime franchise player to provide a little bit more if they want to turn the series around on the Oklahoma City Thunder. LaMarcus Aldridge cannot overcome Steven Adams, Enes Kanter, and Serge Ibaka on his own. Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard have been carrying the load more so than normal.

Getting past the Oklahoma City Thunder might not be enough for Tim Duncan to rebound. The Golden State Warriors are a tough match up for Duncan as well. Draymond Green is an athletic defender that Warriors head coach Steve Kerr likes to use at center. That might force Greg Popovich to only utilize LaMarcus Aldridge as the only big man on the court for the San Antonio Spurs. Aldridge has been known to be able to take Green down in the low post.

The decline in play might convince Tim Duncan to retire from the NBA after the San Antonio Spurs are done with the playoffs. Since he’s not much of a talker, Duncan will more than likely just make a decision and walk away quietly. Duncan prefers to do his talking on the court with guys like Steven Adams and other big men in that National Basketball Association.